Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume IV, Vietnam, August–December 1963

95. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Murrow) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Hilsman)¹

Washington, September 11, 1963.

I handed the following to McGeorge Bundy at today’s meeting.² Until further notice, it will serve as guidelines for our media output on Viet-Nam.

1. Continue to give ample coverage in news output of expressions of U.S. displeasure with aspects of the Diem regime.

2. Watch for and pick up third country, Congressional, and U.S. non-governmental comment critical of the repressive aspects of the Vietnamese government.

3. Seek opportunities to emphasize the difficulties of continuing aid to Viet-Nam on the present scale and, in the President’s words, “at this time” in view of growing Congressional concern.

4. Seek opportunities for emphasizing the need to carry the war against the Viet-Cong to a successful conclusion, and particularly evidences of success toward that end.

ER Murrow

1. Source: Department of State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 67 D 54, PR-11, Press Relations. Confidential.
2. See Documents 93 and 94.